March 9, 2004 - Tuesday, 2nd Week of Lent

Religion is Interior No Hypocrisy

Readings:
Is 1:10,16-20; Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23; Mt 23:1-12

Introduction

When we know our faith and practice our religious duties and observances – when we go to Mass and the sacraments and practice penance during Lent – are we good Christians? Only if our heart is in what we do. If we act as we believe and do what we say. If our faith affects our everyday living and our relations with our neighbor. If we build up the kingdom of God. Otherwise our faith is hypocritical.

Opening Prayer

Lord God,
you want us to live our faith
not so much as a set of rules and practices
but as a relationship from person to person
with you and with people.
God, keep our hearts turned to you,
that we may live what we believe
and that we may express our love for you
in terms of service to those around us,
as Jesus did, your Son,
who lives with you and the Holy Spirit
for ever and ever.

Scripture Readings

First Reading: Is 1:10, 16-20

Hear the word of the LORD,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!

Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow.

Come now, let us set things right,
says the LORD:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;
But if you refuse and resist,
the sword shall consume you:
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23

R (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

"Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold."
R To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

"Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?"
R To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

"When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God."
R To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Gospel Reading: Mt 23:1-12

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees sat on the seat of Moses. So you shall do and observe all they say, but do not do as they do, for they do not do what they say. They tie up heavy burdens and load them on the shoulders of the people, but they do not even raise a finger to move them. They do everything in order to be seen by people; so they wear very wide bands of the Law around their foreheads, and robes with large tassels. They enjoy the first place at feasts and reserved seats in the synagogues, and being greeted in the marketplace and being called 'Master' by the people.

"But you, do not let yourselves be called Master because you have only one Master, and all of you are brothers and sisters. Neither should you call anyone on earth Father, because you have only one Father, he who is in heaven. Nor should you be called leader, because Christ is the only leader for you. Let the greatest among you be the servant of all. For whoever makes himself great shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be made great."

Commentary

WHEN a bishop is in a procession of bishops, how does he hold his crosier? If he is in his own diocese he holds it with the crook pointing forwards, but if he is in another bishop's diocese he holds it with the crook pointing backwards! At least that is what custom dictates. Dogs do something similar with their tails when they are in or out of their own territory! There are still many such foolish rubrics and customs defacing the Church. We still cling to badges of distinction: titles, dress, rank, ceremonial. These would be just harmless foibles if there wasn't a subtext: that others are in some way less significant beings. But "you are all brothers and sisters," Jesus said.

Should we all be exactly the same then? I heard of a novice mistress long ago who was uneasy that her novices were all of different height, so she had a carpenter make boxes for the smaller ones to stand on while in choir! This is the opposite extreme. But the two extremes have this in common: that both are wasting good time on appearances; both are assaulting in some way the dignity of others; and neither is concerned with the service of their brothers and sisters.

General Intercession

–   That we dare to see what is wrong in our Church and in society and voice our protest, we pray:

–   That leaders in the Church and in politics may not let deeds of hunger for power or greed contradict their words and promises, we pray:

–   That we may all care for widows and orphans and for those who have a hard time in life, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God,
we are gathered before you
with your Son in our midst.
May we learn from him
that to celebrate the eucharist
is no substitute for committing ourselves
to the work of justice and mercy
but its source of strength.
May we build up among us
your kingdom of peace.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God, you send us
to be your community,
to be your sign to the world.
May we not draw attention
to ourselves or to our practices,
but go to you together as your people
and guide the world to you.
May service and love be our humble way,
and may Jesus lead us,
he who is your Son and our Lord for ever.

Blessing

May God give us a sense of honesty with ourselves and with God, that we may not pretend to be better than we are and do nothing just for the sake of being seen by people. God knows, and that is enough. May the holy, truthful God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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